Hewitt DA, et al. 2009. Maintaining the Competitiveness of the American Fisheries Society Journals: An Assessment Based on Influence and Cost-Effectiveness. FISHERIES 34 (12): 598-606

[Eugene Garfield]

Hewitt, DA; Link, JS; Wahl, DH; Cooke, SJ; Mather, ME. 2009. Maintaining the 
Competitiveness of the American Fisheries Society Journals: An Assessment 
Based on Influence and Cost-Effectiveness. FISHERIES 34 (12): 598-606.

Author Full Name(s): Hewitt, David A.; Link, Jason S.; Wahl, David H.; Cooke, 
Steven J.; Mather, Martha E.

Language: English
Document Type: Article
KeyWords Plus: OPEN-ACCESS; SCIENCE; MARINE

Abstract: Recent changes in the landscape of scientific publishing prompted 
the Publications Overview Committee of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) 
to review the Society's portfolio of scientific journals. We evaluated journals 
based on metrics in two categories: (1) citation-based measures of the 
influence of a journal on the scientific literature, and (2) measures of the cost-
effectiveness of a journal (citation rate adjusted for subscription cost). Over 
the long-term, we found that ecology journals had far stronger citation-based 
influence than fisheries and aquatic sciences journals, and that journals 
publishing primarily basic research had stronger influence than journals 
publishing applied research (including four AFS journals and Fisheries magazine). 
In evaluating the current status of fisheries and aquatic sciences journals, we 
found that metrics of influence and cost-effectiveness provided considerably 
different portrayals of journals relative to their peers. In terms of citation-
based influence, we found that the AFS journal Transactions of the American 
Fisheries Society (TAFS) and Fisheries magazine were competitive with highly 
regarded peer fisheries journals, but that North American Journal of Aquaculture 
(NAJA) and Journal of Aquatic Animal Health (JAAH) were less influential than 
their peers. The citation-based influence of North American Journal of Fisheries 
Management (NAJFM) was intermediate between TAFS/Fisheries and 
NAJA/JAAH. For journals like NAJFM and NAJA, we expect that much of the 
scientific influence on policy and management is not captured by citations in 
the primary literature, and alternative methods of evaluation may be needed. 
All of the AFS journals ranked highly with regard to cost-effectiveness because 
their subscription costs are low, and these rankings are in accordance with 
membership needs and the strategic mission of AFS to provide broad and timely 
dissemination of scientific information. We conclude by suggesting ways to 
increase the influence of AFS journals without compromising their accessibility 
and affordability, and offer advice about methods and frequency for future 
journal evaluations.

Addresses: [Hewitt, David A.] US Geol Survey, Western Fisheries Res Ctr, 
Klamath Falls Field Stn, Klamath Falls, OR USA; [Link, Jason S.] Natl Marine 
Fisheries Serv, NE Fisheries Sci Ctr, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA; [Wahl, David 
H.] Univ Illinois, Sam Parr Biol Stat Illinois Nat Hist Survey, Sullivan, IL USA; 
[Cooke, Steven J.] Carleton Univ, Inst Environm Sci, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, 
Canada; [Cooke, Steven J.] Carleton Univ, Dept Biol, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, 
Canada; [Mather, Martha E.] Univ Massachusetts, US Geol Survey, 
Massachusetts Cooperat Fish & Wildlife Res Unit, Dept Nat Resources 
Conservat, Amherst, MA 01003 USA

Reprint Address: Hewitt, DA, US Geol Survey, Western Fisheries Res Ctr, 
Klamath Falls Field Stn, Klamath Falls, OR USA.
E-mail Address: dhewitt at usgs.gov

ISSN: 0363-2415